Unzen Ropeway

A ropeway with a total length of Approx. 500 meters connecting Unzendake Nita Pass Station and Myokendake Station. It covers an elevation difference of Approx. 174 meters in Approx. 3 minutes and runs every 3 minutes. The gondolas use a three-cable system.

At the summit-side Myokendake Station, there is a rooftop observation deck with views of Fugendake, Heisei Shinzan, the Shimabara Peninsula, and the Amakusa Islands. Walk uphill for another 5 to 6 minutes from the station, and you will reach the Myokendake Observatory at an elevation of 1,300 meters. Known as the highest observatory in Nagasaki Prefecture, it offers sweeping views as far as the Goto Islands and even Sakurajima when conditions are clear.

Each season welcomes visitors with a different kind of natural beauty, from Miyamakirishima azaleas coloring the mountain slopes in spring and kousa dogwoods in early summer to autumn leaves and winter frost-covered trees. The Miyamakirishima azaleas at Nita Pass are especially famous, reaching their best from early to mid-May, and the clustered blooms can also be enjoyed from the ropeway.

Myokendake Station also has an exhibition area with panels and dioramas introducing Unzen’s volcanic activity. Along with the natural scenery, visitors can learn about how the region was formed. The ropeway operates year-round, so mountain views can be enjoyed anytime except during severe weather.